22hertz

I took this reel out fishing again yesterday leaving all my other reels at home to get more aquatinted with it. After playing with the settings I definitely have it dialed in as good as the reel can get. I know this because I had atleast 10 backlashes dialing in lower brake settings, lower spool tension and even not thumbing the spool when the bait hit the water (big mistake that cost me 20 minutes of picking out a yuuuuge birdsnest) The reel performs great given the price but it can and will backlash if not fished or setup properly. It casts a 1/8oz inline spinner very well straight out of the box. I bought the reel knowing I could buy a DIY spool, and will at some point but the reel works great as is.

Are you sure the Casitas doesn't have X-Ship? Shimano doesn't advertise this reel to have it but Im thinking it does. Maybe on the JDM MGL version and not the US version? Could you tell a difference between the two you owned? http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimcasitasmglpg2.html

Tuned properly? As in dialing in the reel or do you mean tuned by adding/changing parts?

Weight and feel. Some say graphite reels aren't as structurally rigid but IDK about that. I think it comes down to what type of composite is being used and how the reel is designed meaning the thickness of the composite in key areas. Shimano knows how to build reels and IMO the Casitas is very underrated. It will be lighter than an aluminum reel and the 150 size is a good compromise between compact size and the amount of line it can hold. As an aside benefit the reel wont feel cold on a cold morning or night. I would buy the JDM Casitas MGL over the Curado I or Citica for the same price. Why do you like the Curado over the Casitas?

I found 10 worked the best with a 1/8oz inline spinner I was throwing.

There seems to be a lack of reel comparisons on the internet for someone looking for how one reel performs VS another. Im writing this in hopes someone finds the info useful for research into one everyday, average persons experience with these two reels. Anyone reading this should keep in mind the Curado is 2 years old and has been casted a minimum of a million times (not joking I love fishing). The Tatula is new straight out of the box, and I have no experience with the reel other that the short time I spent with it before writing this comparison. I had a chance to fish my new Tatula CT yesterday. For comparison I brought along my 2 year old Shimano Curado I Both reels are mounted on the same rod (Tournament ZX) and both spooled with new Pline Floroclear 10lb This is only my initial impression after switching between both throwing the same lure for 4 hours. The Tatula feels solid. It gives the impression its built like a tank. Unfortunately for the Diawa thats all I think the Tatula has over my Curado I I would say the #1 thing that stood out between these two reels is the way the braking system works in the real world. I felt the brakes on the Shimano were better than the Magforce Z brakes. The Curado I brakes could be dialed in to not need any thumb during the cast VS the Tatula needing some thumb during the cast and more thumb to stop the spool at the end of the cast. I could get the Tatula close to needing no thumb but if dialed in this way the Tatula didn't cast very far (far short of the Curado I distance needing no thumb during cast) and if I adjusted it to cast the same distance (well, close to the same) the Tatula needed thumb during the cast and more thumb to stop the spool at the end of the cast. The Curado brakes are more progressive allowing not only no thumb needed during the cast but also just a light touch at the end of the cast to stop the spool. Something to take note of is the Curado brake adjustment dial doesnt have 'clicks' and is infintely adjustable within its adjustment range. The Tatula brake adjustment dial has 'clicks' allowing discrete adjustment only. The brakes on the two reels are different enough that I don't think the finite adjustment of the Tatula brakes is a problem, but I do feel like the infinite adjustment of the Curado brakes makes getting dialed in perfect possible. The Curado brakes feel like they slow the spool at different rates over the entire cast (progressive) where the Tatula Magforce Z brakes feel like it slows the same amount (linear) the entire cast. I much prefer the Shimano braking feel and performance. The Curado sits lower on the rod and is more ergonomic for me. Thats not to say that the Tatula is bad but the Tatula had a slight hot spot where my thumb and pointer finger join (the area of the hand that contacts the beaver tail of a pistol). I hold the rod with my thumb over top of the reel and put two fingers in front of the rod trigger and two behind. This allows me to choke up on the reel in my hand and I found the Shimano is more rounded in the corner where it presses against my hand VS the Diawa that was a little more pointed putting more pressure against my hand. Another interesting observation is (Im assuming) because the Tatula body is constructed of all aluminum there was a pronounced gear meshing (or possibly bearing) noise propagating through the reel body during the retrieve. The Shimano has a similar sound but is greatly dampened (again Im assuming) with the use of some plastic. According to tacklewarehouse both reels are the same weight but my observation is the Tatula felt heavier. It could be the higher seat height of the Tatula that made it feel heavier but it definitely wore my arm and wrist out more than the Curado has ever done. Casting distance again I have to give to the Curado. Both casted plenty far for my needs and both were accurate casters so Im happy with the performance of both here. It could be because I was new to the Tatula but I was getting more backlashes with the Tatula first time out until I played with it a bit and figured it out. The Tatula instructions state spool tension only needs to be tightened enough to remove any side-to-side play but I was getting some bad backlashing until I tightened the spool to allow the lure to drop slow like I do on the Curado. I had the brakes on max. The Curado was my first baitcaster, having never used one before I bought it. I didn't backlash it a single time the first three trips with it, but I tightened the spool to allow the lure to drop slow. I like the Tatula CT and plan to keep it for now, and at the online price these reels can be found it is a real bargain but I wont be getting rid of my Curado just yet

Im not going to say its the best or my favorite because I haven't tried everything on the market but I have been satisfied with Pline Floroclear 10lb especially at $8 for 300 yards.

Similar to you I fish from a kayak and usually have a 1/8 oz inline spinner tied on. I also use a small 1/8 oz jig a lot. I fish those baits with a Shimano Curado 200I and a Cabelas Tournament ZX rod (model TZXC-71MH the rod that says Spinnerbait/Swimjig on the butt of the rod) and Pline Floroclear 10lb Its a great setup. Its so light i can fish it all day without getting worn out. The rod loads up nice and can sling the spinner a long way. Like you, a couple years ago all I had used was a spinning reel but was curious about a BC. I read up on them and it seemed like a lot of trouble to have to mess with adjusting the reel to the bait each time I changed lures. I also read you can get backlashes easily and have to learn how to cast a BC properly. I thought why would I want to go through all that...for what? I found my Curado on sale for a deal I couldn't pass and bought my rod on sale after looking at everything in the $100 price range 2 or 3 times. The only reason I bought this setup is because I found everything on sale, and it turned out to be a good decision. I found the Curado was easy to cast. Initial setup is a breeze. There is a wide range of settings that allow the BC to not backlash even though there are some settings that allow the BC to cast further or less far so i was happy about that. I like to set mine up so I don't have to thumb the spool and all I have to do is cast then put my thumb on the spool as the bait enters the water. As it turns out the BC is much easier to fish and makes more accurate casts than my spinning setup. After getting the BC my spinning combo is collecting dust. So here is my experience with the BC. I can make more accurate casts. I can stop the cast with my thumb if I throw too hard and start heading into weeds/trees/bank. I like the balance and feel of the reel in my hand while wrapping my fingers around the rod. I like how quick I can cast after retrieving the lure and how fast I can begin retrieving the lure after the cast. I like the lighter weight of baitcasters. Right now the Cabelas ZX rods are on sale for $70 and I feel there isn't a better rod for that price. Even at full MSRP I would pick that rod over any other $100 rod. I recently had a chance to try a friends rod, the Duckett Ghost which was one of three rods I was choosing from, with the same Curado reel and it confirmed my choice as the ZX rod being a better rod, especially at the sale price. I have caught anywhere from a 1.5" herring (lol) to a 36 lb Stripe bass on the rod (using 10lb Pline Floroclear). 2 Weeks ago I caught approximately 70 shad weighing around 2-3 lbs each in just 3 1/2 hours during our annual shad run using a 1/8 oz jig. These shad give a decent fight swimming is a strong river current and gave me the chance to see the rod in action. Its a very versatile rod. I recently bought a Diawa Tatula CT. I want to see how this reel stacks up against my Curado I. At just under $100 shipped I felt it was worth a try and I purchased another ZX TZXC-71MH rod to put it on. The Tatula CT is still shipping to me so i cant comment on it yet however I really like my Curado and I know its capable of doing what you want to do with it and I can without question recommend it. Its on sale at the moment for $150. Another reel to look at for the same price is a JDM Shimano Casitas MGL which will hold less line but be smaller, lighter and cast light weight lures better. The body of that reel is plastic so keep that in mind where the body of the Curado and Tatula CT is aluminum.

You should also consider a JDM Casitas MGL. 150 size, light weight reel with an MGL spool and the improved SVS brakes.

How did you get the shirt? Edit: I found the form to get the shirt. Thanks for the info about the free shirt.

If you're serious about fishing get one quality combo no question. I just bought another Cabela's ZX Tournemant rod. They are on sale right now for $70 IMO this rod blows away every other rod in this price range. I would buy it over every other rod in the $100 price range as well. For $99 shipped you can order a Diawa Tatula CT for an incredibly good combo for the price. If you want to spend a bit more you could order a Shimano Casitas MGL from Japan. Either reel would be a good choice.

Owning a kayak is well worth it. I used to fish from the bank and see spots down or across the river, lake or cove and think 'if only I could try that spot'. Well now I can and I don't have to walk a mile tromping through the woods to get there. I also used to go fishing, pick an empty spot and fish for a few minutes when all of a sudden here comes a truck load of people to fish the same spot. That's what pushed me over the edge to get a yak. I can throw my yak on the roof rack of my car and load a rod, paddle, life vest, tackle box and two bottled waters in under 10 minutes and I'm ready to hit the road. I still get 30MPG and can put in anywhere I can walk to. Owning a kayak has opened fishing possibilities I wouldn't have had without one. I also do a lot of exploring with it. Get one, you'll love it. If you plan to paddle far buy the best lightest paddle you can afford.

In the video it sounds like the spool is rubbing against the frame. When cleaning the reel do you clean the area where the spool is positioned? Do you see any rub marks on the spool or frame? Could the spool axle be bent possibly? Try putting the spool on a table, rolling it slowly keep an eye on the axle. Does either side wobble at all? Do you put oil in the pinion? These reels have tight tolerances so anything added may misalign the spool. I have the same reel with 2 years of use without this problem. It would be nice to know the issue and solution if this ever happens to mine or others' reels. If this is common enough where multiple people are experiencing this problem we need to get the bottom of the source of the problem. For now I wouldn't throw any more parts at the reel. If a bearing is suspected to be bad a drop of oil should quiet it enough to pinpoint it as a bad bearing.

If it was my money I would by a Cabela's Tournament ZX Bass casting rod on sale for $70 and a Diawa Tatula CT for $100 and pick up a spool of P-line floroclear in 10lb for $8 This is IMO the absolute best deal you will find on new equipment. Cabelas just ran their sale on the rod so I'm not sure when they will run it again.

I stopped by Clarks Hill today. Fishing from the shore for just an hour as the sun went down I had bait fish chasing my lure and hung into two fish but didn't get either to shore. Like a dummy I didn't take off my sunglasses as the sun was almost down and hung into a fish that hit like a freight train close to the shore. He swam violently left-right-left then got loose. Whatever it was the fish looked about 1.5 feet long and pulled much harder than a fish that size should. I would say its worth going to the lake to try your luck. I'll be going back for a full fishing trip when I get the time.

I believe the drag star is also different between the two. Polymer on the CT and carbon fiber on the CT-R if I'm not mistaken.

Thanks for the videos and PDF link guys. It was what I needed but couldn't find.

Does anyone know where a Curado 200i disassembly video or guide is online? I can't find one anywhere. I want to take my reel apart for the first time to clean and lube everything but want to see how its done before attempting it.

I bought my first baitcaster 2 years ago wanting to try something new from the spinning gear I used my entire life. I never picked up my spinning gear after that. Actually I did take out my spinning rod a couple months ago, made a few casts and it just felt weird. I couldn't cast anywhere near where I wanted so I put it down and went back to the caster. I was skeptical how something known to have backlashing problems and needing constant adjustment could be any better, but for me it has been the single best decision I have made for fishing. I ended up buying a Cabela's Tournament ZX rod and Shimano Curado 200i I got both on sale and don't remember exactly what I paid but I think the rod was around $70 and the reel around $140 I have been happy with the performance of both. The rod is light and sensitive and the reel casts great in all conditions. Even when I first went out with the reel as a noob I didn't have any backlashes. I also liked the Falcon Bucoo (My budget for a rod was $100 so I looked in that price range). The Duckett Ghost also felt great. All three of these rods has some bad reviews. I haven't had any problems out of the Cabela's rod so maybe I got lucky. The warranty and sale price was good and the rod felt amazing to me for the price so I took the chance. If I were looking today for a reel I would strongly consider the Diawa Tatula CT and Shimano Curado 70 Go put your hands on as many rods as you can. Look for any flaws. I saw a good bit of rods with flaws. Wait for sales before buying if youre on a budget. Sales will always come up so wait it out. I didn't like some popular recommended rods so I think its important to handle as many as possible before you buy. Eventually you will connect with a couple and that should be what you buy.

This should help: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/supertune-baitcaster.html

I can report fishing the Savannah river above lock & dam is great. I went out for 4 hours and caught about 20 fish. Getting to Clark's Hill will take longer than I expected but will report back when I go.

I'm looking for opinions and experiences at Belton Bridge park in Lula GA. I want to put my kayak in and fish here but I read some reports this area is not safe. Its an hour drive and would rather not have to drive that far to find out meth addicts hang around here and have to turn back around. Ive been to Lula park a coupe times and there were some rednecks hooping and hollering on the other side of the bridge but my vehicle never got messed with. Would also be interested in hearing if Lula park water level is high enough to get a kayak out to the river. Thanks guys

I'm planning to fish Savannah river in a day or two and Clarks Hill after. I can report back. I haven't fished Clarks Hill much this year due to the lake level being low and the extreme heat this summer. Having said that I caught my personal best this summer at Clarks Hill. Did I mention the heat was brutal.

I tried a spool of 10# P-Line Floroclear last year for the first time and although it wasn't perfect it had a lot of attributes I liked and I had a good experience with that line. When it was time to respool I bought another spool of the same. The new spool gave me countless break-offs. This line also seemed to not stretch as much and would break with no warning unlike the previous spool that would stretch a lot then come to a point where it didn't want to stretch any further before breaking. Reading reviews on this line its apparent you play the line lottery when buying P-Line Floroclear, and I don't gamble with my tackle purchases. If you get a good spool its a fairly OK line, if you get a bad spool be prepared to have random breaks anywhere in the line (not at just the knot). I wont be buying any more after this experience.

IMO you should save up a little more. If I were in your situation I would wait until you had the cash to buy a Shimano Caenan and Cabelas Tournament ZX rod (on sale). The rods go on sale for $70 and is a real bargain for what you get. I doubt you will find the reel on sale any time soon, but I think it would be money well spent to save up for this combo.